Wichita eagle., 1887-07-16
FIRE..


Yesterday afternoon at so the fire alarm
was turned in from the west side station at
Davis barber shop. The fire department
answered promptly; No. first crossing the
bridge soon followed by No g
The scene of the conflagration was the row
OF old buildings at the southeast corner of
Chicago avenue and Sycamore street.
The buildings were all of wood and the
flames spread with a frightful rapidity. No.
Immediately connected with plug near
by, but there was not enough pressure to
carry the water upon the fire. No. 2 upon
the arrival was compelled to connect with the
SAME plug, and the time consumed in
turning off the water for this
purpose, together with the delay
caused by want of pessure, gave the flames
| still more Roadway. 1t becoming evident
that the burning buildings conld not be
| saved, the fire ladies turned their attention
! to adjoining structures. The wind was blow
| ing the flames across the street and several
times the shop and stable opposite were on
| fire, but were quickly extinguished. The
hardware store of Mr.. S. u.s. CARRIER, east
Of the burning buildings, were also very
much exposed aud the exterior walls and
roof were blistered and burnt. The stock of
goods within were mostly removed to the
sidewalk.
When more pressure had been turned on
the fire department commenced to play upon
the old livery barn and succeeded in saving
it from entire destruction. Several Of the
members were severely burnt in the attempts
as they were compelled to push the nozzle
OF The hose almost upon the
flames. Bob Armstrong of No. l, was burn
upon the side of the head. Al Brown. also
of No. l, received severe injuries upon the
hands, both of which being blistered and
burnt from the intense heat. The conduct
of the boys was throughout that of valiant
men, and even laboring as they did with in
adequate facilities they saved part Of one of
the buildin. S in the midst of the confagra-
ton and saved the adjoining structures all
of which were dry, pine buildings
The fire started, all who were first upon
the grounl arc agreed, either in the rear of
or above the lunch room. First door west of
this was H. L. DAVIS barber shop, he dis
covered the fire, turned on the alarm and in
formed Mr.. A. c. Neiderlander whose real
estate office was just west of him Of his dan
ger Mr. Neiderlander Immediately began
to remove his Office furniture; but SO rapidly
] did the flames spread that
| he had scarcely time to get out his
desk. So excited was the person who
carried this that in his hurry he upset all the
drawers, the papers fell out and were carried
back into the flames. Mr.. Davis managed to
utersils. Very few thingo were rescued from
| the lunch room and what were consisted prin-
| cipally of eatables, afterward devoured by
| the crowd. A Chinaman who the day before
had opened a laundry next to to the lunch
| stand lost everything. Gerts al Lucas were
not in their office when the fire took place
| but lost all of their paints, worth about $500,
| and everything else left in the building.
The loss from all sources will not fall short
Of $4,000. Mr.. E. H. De Wore, the owner of
the buildings had them insured for 1000;
| He is at present out of the city and it is not
known by what company he is secured.
The origin of the IRE is not definitely
known. Many say it was the result of care
lessness from persons in the room over the
lunch stand. Others believe the fire to be
work Of an incendiary and that it originated
in small building in the rear and that the
flames were carried by the wind, first to the
upper part Of the building, and from there
spread to the adjoining structures. The
matter will no doubt be further investigated
and the origin properly determined.